Being a sixth-round pick in 2018, Mandolese has blossomed in junior
Prior to this season, not many thought much of Kevin Mandolese as a prospect, thought to be a written off late-round goalie prospect who just didn’t pan out, but the story is the opposite.
Mandolese was a 1st round pick into the QMJHL (13th Overall), so he has always had the talent to be an NHL goalie and combined with standing at 6’4″, he is a very enticing prospect. At 19-years old now, time is on his side as most of Ottawa‘s goalie prospects are a few years older. Coming off a superb 2019-20 season, expectations are at an all-time high.
In his fourth year in the QMJHL (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League), the large netminder broke out and became a premier goalie in the junior ranks. Stuck in a crowded crease in Ottawa, battling prospects such as Marcus Hogberg, Joey Daccord, Filip Gustavsson and Mads Søgaard, all have equal opportunity to be the Senators goalie of the future.
2019-2020 Recap
Through his first three seasons for Cape Breton, Mandolese never posted a higher SV% than 0.895 and a GAA lower than 2.87, he would crush those marks in 2020.
Concluding the season posting a 26-8-1 record with an absurd 0.925 SV% and a 2.33 GAA, placing first and third respectively among all qualified goalies. At season’s end, Mandolese was named the QMJHL’s goalie of the year:
According to Pick224: an advanced stats site for prospects, Mandolese led all QMJHL goalies in GSAA (Goals Saved Above Average) with a total of 30.450. The Cape Breton Eagles star goalie was also very efficient on high-quality chances against him as well, posting a 0.848 SV% versus those chances, placing him 2nd in the league.
In a Sportsnet article released after Mandolese signed his Entry-Level Contract, Pierre Dorion praised the goaltending prospect:
"“Kevin worked hard this past season to become one of the top goaltenders in the QMJHL,” Senators GM Pierre Dorion said via a press release. “He’s positionally sound, has good lateral mobility and has proven adept at reading the play. Since being drafted, he’s been diligent about understanding what he needs to do both on and off the ice to be ready to be a pro goaltender."
Dorion liked the work that the Cape Breton goalie put in during the season and was endeared by his QMJHL dominance.
Grading out strong in the box score and analytically, Mandolese wasn’t just a product of a strong Cape Breton team, he was more so the driving force.
The Senators prospect also dawned some Marc-Andre Fleury esque pads reminiscent of Fleury’s time with Cape Breton:
Blossoming on the ice in terms of play and style, Mandolese pulled off all the “stops” last season.
Can Mandolese Become an NHL Goalie?
Goalies are always an interesting case, regardless of round selected, it’s tough to tell whether a goalie will make it big or not.
While Ottawa has 5 prospects who could potentially be “the guy”, there’s no reason why Mandolese can’t be a part of the Senators hopefully successful future.
The talented goalie has the foundational traits that transition well to the NHL, he’s very sound in the net and rarely over commits to shots, he allows his big frame to make saves and doesn’t just rely on his reflexes. While at times he does struggle with rebound control, that’s not uncommon for a goalie in this stage of his career.
“Mandolese will start next season in the ECHL and that will give him the opportunity to play”
When Mandolese signed his contract with Ottawa, it was assumed that he would make the move to the professional level the following season and that was confirmed by Senators goaltending coach Pierre Groulx in a recent interview with Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun. With Ottawa’s goaltending depth at the professional level, Mandolese will be expected to start in the ECHL, but that doesn’t mean he will stay there the whole year (see: Joey Daccord).
With the frame, skills and working mentality, there’s no reason why Mandolese can’t be an Ottawa Senator in the future.